Electrolytic cell.



entran .srarns JAMES R. CROCKER, `OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MCDONALE ELIEICTR.OLY'IIC` COMPANY, 0F NWX'ORK, Na Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.y

PATENT OFFICE. y

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. CROCKER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Inventions Relating to Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells and relates especially to cells for the electrolysis of.sodium chlorid and the recovery of the caustic soda by its constant .elimination from the cathode diaphragm.

In the accompanying 4 drawings showing in atsomewhat diagrammatic way an illus` trative embodiment of this invention, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a cell; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a construction of the cathode diaphragm.

In the illustrative embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings, the cell body 2 may be conveniently formed of castI iron or other material and provided with suitable conductor lugs 3 with which the cathode leads 34 may be connected in any desired Way. A series of ribs 29 may be formed integral with the cell body or otherwise and arranged at intervals between the end walls 42 of the cell so as to preferably have their inner faces inclined and located in the same plane for engagement with the support or cathode diaphragm 3G at the proper intervals. These ribs may as indicated be formed with suitable recesses 38 so as to provide communicating Aopenings forming a longitudinal channel through the cell adjacent the liquor pockets 4 which may as indicated be cast integral with the cell body and formed with suitable liquor taps if desired. The cathode diaphragm 36 may be placed in suitably inclined position against the ribs 29 with which its metallic support.

forms sufficiently good electrical contact, the upper, lower and lateral edges of these diaphragms being embedded if desired within a suitable concrete filling such as the bot-- tom 1, the end members or lining 31 and the upper concrete lining members 18 upon which a. suitable cover 22 of slate or other material may rest.

The anode may be conveniently formed with anode facings 14 of graphitic carbon or other suitable material secured to and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 520,284.

electrically connected with the anode spider 21 of suitable like, which may be prgvided Withsuit-able arms 16, 26 as indicated. The studs 15 of carbon or other material may as indicated have a threaded engagement with the vspider arms and havetheir outer ends located in suitable apertures in the facing plates, the outer portionsv of these apertures being closed with plugs 33 of carbon or similar composition. When the anode members are assembled to this extent a suitable acid-reristingtilling 17 of cement, concrete or the like may be cast between them so as t-o solidly back the anode facings and more rigidly support the other members. The anode may as indicated rest upon a suitable slate, porcelain or other insulating member 27 and e provided with the insulatingy and protecting bushing 20 around each anode spider and extending up through the cover 22 so as to protect this portion of the spider from the action of fumes when the lower portion of this bushing is sealed into the anode tilling 17 by suitable impervious cement 30er the like. The anode lead 32 indicated diagrammatically may be connected with the slotor other connecting means 24 in each of the spiders in any desired Way./ The cover 22 may as indicated be provided with suitable gas outlets 28 and with any desired feeding device for the electrolyte, such, for instance, as the feed funnelf23 preferably having its lower end 19 dipping into the electrolyte as indicated in dotted lines so as to supply at the proper time the salt brine or other electrolyte 13, which may as indi cated rest in the somewhat tapering spaces between the inclined lower working faces of the anode and the coperating faces of the cathode diaphragm 36.

The cathode diaphragm may as indicated comprise a suitable metallic support in the form of a screen of heavy wire of iron or other suitable material, the straight filling members of this screen preferably running horizontally as indicated in the drawings. Upon this support and forced into rm electrical. contact therewith is provided a suitable diaphragm which may be composed of diaphragm fabric, such as asbestos cloth or paper impregnated or treated with `suitable may comprise a layerof asbestos paper 10 pcompositions if desired. Theydiaphragm and of.. `asbestos.cloth 12 which Amay be other ingredients and then 1840 to 240 grains treated or impregnated with suitable metal i lic oxids or salts, including zinc oxid or the like, preferably promoting the conductive properties of the diaphragm and of a fairly permanent character in this connection.. The treating composition may befprepared by mixing 180 to 240 grams or so of zincv oxid with'250 cubic centimeters of silicate of soda of 18`Baum, the silicate of sodabeing preferably slowly added to 'the zinc oxid and thoroughly incorporated to'form a creamy mixture to which 120 to 140 grams or; so of litharge may be slowly added and 'incorporated. About 50 )cubic centimeters of `silicate of soda of about 18 BaumeJ may then be added and thorouglgy mixed with the or so of ferric oxid (Fe203) thoroughly incorporated therewith, `after which the `treating composition may be diluted with 200 c. c. more-silicate of soda of about the lsame st-rength to give the treating composition a 7thick creamy or rather pasty character suitable for treating the asbestos diaphragm material. AThis metallic oxid treating composit-ion may be applied to the coarsely woven asbestos cloth an eighth of an inch or so thick and thoroughly rubbed into the same after which 100 c. c. of silicate of soda of 18 ,Baume may be used to wet the treated side of the cloth, after which further rubbing may be employed to effect the more uniform impregnation o f the diaphragm material. i .The quantities above indicated vgive good results when applied so as to cover about 15 square feet of the asbestos cloth, although of course asbestos paper, cloth. or other diaphragm material may be impregnated in other ways with this or generally` similar treating compositions. In

I forming the composite cathode diaphragm "a layer of'fairly pliable asbestos'papenlO asixteenth of an inch or so thick may be l placed neXt'to the-wire screen support 9 of eight or te mesh or so in suchl a way as to become ein edded more or less in the screen and form proper contact therewith. The asbestos cloth 12 may then be placed in contact with the diaphragm paper so as to bring the treat-ing material 11 in cont-act with the paper against which the cloth is firmly pressed and held by the liquid pressure of the electrolyte Vduring the operation of the cell.

The electrolyzed sodium is forced into the cathode diaphragm into the presence of the treat-ing salts which apparently tend to prevent recombination of the caustic soda or its rediffusion into the body of the electrolyteadjacent the anode. The caustic'y soda passes outward through the cloth and paper layers of the cathode diaphragm, the outer portions 'of which are supplied with moisture from the electrolyte within by the static caustic liquor rise in the cathode f if: and osmotic pressure. Moisture may also 4be supplied to the outside of the 4cathode diaphragm by the water vapor evolved from the caustic liquor 5 in *the'liquorpockets under the influence of suit-able heating devices such as the steam pipes 6, 7, which may C be located therein to heat and somewhat vaporize the caustic liquor. v The water vapors 8 which arethus driven from the chambers 39 and collect on the support and diaphragm to promote the diffusion ofthe caustic soda therethrough and to combine with the caustic soda and form in droplets which tend to run down the bent screen wires away yfrom 'the asbestos diaphragm material so tlathe caustic liquor Mis finally collected in the liquor pockets from V'which itf'- may be drawn in somewhat concentrated form from time to time throughthe liquor taps 35. Suitable vapor vents 2,5 may be formed in the upper part of the cathode chambers 39 to allow the escape of air or gas therefrom and to regulate the action of the vapor therein. The chlorin evolvedat the anode rises in bubblesin contact with the lower, inclined working faces thereof through the gradually expanding electrolyte passage 13 so vas to be eliminated by discharge through the gas electrolyzed materials are carried and kept away from the diaphragm and good etliciency and permanency are both secured, as has been proved by operation of many months under practical conditions.

Having described this invention in connection with illustrative ingredients, proportions,- formsiand devices, to the details of which'. disclosure the inventi/on is not of course to be limited, what is/claimed as new and desired to be secured lfy Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid brine or similar salt comprising a cast metallic body liaving .inclined ribs forming lateral cathode chambers, liquor pockets communicating therewith, cathode diaphragms engaging said ribs and' consisting ofsupportingwire screens having the straight wires horizontal,

asbestos paper and cloth diaphragm inavfaces for engagement with the electrolyte, an

anode comprising a protected metallic spider and anode 'facings of graphitic carbon connected with said spider and having inclined lower working faces coperatingffwth .said

cathode diaphragms, to form an upwardly expanding electrolyte section communicating with the gas chamber above said anode and heating steam pipes in said liquor pockets to vaporize and concentrate the caustic liquor therein and supply water vapor to said cathode diaphragm supports and eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom.

2. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chloridl brine l.or similar salt which comprises a metallic body having inclined ribs and liquor pockets adjacent thereto, combined cathode diaphragms engaging said ribs and consisting of metallic supports and asbestos material impregnated with substantially permanent metallic oXid and silicate treating material comprising zinc oXid, said cathode diaphragms having inclined upper Working faces for engagement with the electrolyte, an anode comprising carbon inclined lower lworking faces cooperating with said cathode diaphragms and forming upwardly expanding electrolyte sections and heating means tovaporize the liquor in said liquor pockets and supply water vapor to said cathode diaphragms and eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom.

3. The electrolytic cell suit-able for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid comprising a body having vapor chambers and communieating liquor pockets, cathode diaphragms y mounted in said body and comprising metallic supports and asbestos diaphragm material impregnated with treating material comprising metallic oXids, said cathode diaphragms havingoinclined upper Working faces for engagement with the electrolyte, an anode having inclined lower working faces cooperating with said cathode diaphragms and means to supply Water vapor to said cathode diaphragms to eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom.

4. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid comprising a body having a vapor chamber and coperating liquor pocket, an inclined cathode diaphragm mounted in said vapor chamber and cooperating with said liquor pocket, said cathode diaphragm comprising a foraminous conducting support and diaphragm fabric material in engagement therewith, an anode coperating with said cathode diaphragm and means to concentrate the caustic liquor in' said liquor pocket and simultaneously supply vapor therefrom to said cathode diaphragm to eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom. t Y

5. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid comprising a body having a vapor chamber and coperating liquor pocket, an inclined cathode diaphragm mounted on a series of supporting ribs insaid vapor, chamber, said cathode diaphragm comprising a foraininous conducting support and fabric diaphragm material 1n cooperation therewith, an anode coperating withsaid cathode diaphragm, an anode having an inclined lower working face cooperating with said cathode diaphragm and means to concentratethe caustic liquor in said. liquorpocket and simultaneously supply ,vapor therefrom to said cathode daphragm to eliminate the electrolyz'edcaustic therefrom.

'6. The electrolytic cell comprising a body 4 having a vapor chamber, a cooperating liquor pocket, a cathode diaphragm mounted in said vapor chamber, an anode coperatingwith said ethodediaphragm and means to electrolysis of sodium chlorid comprising a body having a cathode chamber, an inclined cathodediaphragm ymounted in said chamber and comprising a conducting supportv and diaphragm material provided with an' inclined upper working face for enga ement with 4the electrolyte, a resistant ano e having an inclined lower working face coper- .ating with said cathode vdiaphragm and means to concentrate the caustlc liquor and` simultaneouslyv supply water to said cathode diaphragm and eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom.

' 8. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid comprising a body having a cathode chamber, a coperating liquor pocket, a cathode diaphragm mounted in said chamber, an anode coperating with said cathode diaphragm and heating" pipes in said liquor pocket to vaporize and concentrate the caustic liquor therein and supply vapor to said cathode diaphragm to eliminate the electrolyzed caustic therefrom.

9. The electrode for an electrolytic cell comprising a metallic spider having transverse arms provided with threaded apertures, angularly arranged facing plates of graphitic carbon, conductive carbon studs having threaded connection with the arms of said spider andlembedded in said facing plates and a resistant supportin filling em-v bedding and protecting said spi er and connections and supporting said facing plates.

l0. The electrolytic cell comprising an anode and a cathode diaphragm comprising a supporting wirescreen mounted in inclined position, asbestos paper and cloth may terial in engagementwith said screen and substantially permanent metallic oXid and silicate 5` treating material comprising zinc oxid impregnating said diaphragm material.

11. The combined electrode diaphragm for an electrolytic cell comprising an inclined foraminous metallic support, /an asbestos fabric diaphragm material in fenlgagement with said support, said diaphra'gm material beingimpregnated with substantially permanent conductive material comcathode diaphragms to prising silicate and coperating metallic oxid material. v

12. The combined electrode diaphragm for an electrolytic cell comprising a foraminous metallic support, asbestos diaphragm material in engagement with said support, said diaphragm material being impregnated with substantially' permanent metallic oxid material comprising lead oxid and. silicate treating material.

13. The electrolytic cell suitable for the electrolysis of sodium chlorid brine or similar salt comprising inclined cathode diaphragme and an anode having inclined lower working faces coperating4 with said orm upwardly excomprising an'inclined cathode diaphragm` and an anode having an inclined lower Working `face cooperating with said cathode diaphragm to form an upwardly expanding electrolyte section between the adjacent faces-of said cathode 'diaphragm and said anode.

JAMES R. CROCKER. Witnesses:

HARRY L. DUNCAN, Jnssm B. KAY. 

